Sore Neck or Shoulders?

Working in the office or home and finding your neck aches? This may affect your other lifestyle enjoyment or sports.

The solution may be a simple one in that your monitor or screen is too low and you find yourself hunched over your desk and craning your neck.

The average head weighs between 2.3 and 5 kilos with 22 bones in the human head which rests on the the neck and seven cervical vertebrae supporting it.

Hold a 5kg weight at an angle for 10 minutes and you realise the impact and strain you put on your neck whilst sitting working.

If you place your computer monitor directly in front of you with the center of the screen level with your nose then this is the ideal height and distance you want to work at.

If you work with your laptop or monitor too low or on your desk you will find that you angle your head downward and increase stress on your neck.

Check your self in the mirror to see if your shoulders are raised slightly, check and see if you notice that your shoulders are stiff or ache from time to time.

Remember a screen that is too high may cause you to extend your neck as much as a screen that is too low. 

Some simple products or changes in habit can help you every day..

Getting into good habits is important and getting the right desk and monitor is important (along with a chair, see our guide on this)

Important points to remember are:

• You should allow for space above your knees when sitting, as well as a keyboard height that keeps your shoulders and arms in that minimal tension, neutral posture.

• Most desks are between 71cm and 73cm high and check your desk height is at approximately the same level as your elbows when sitting. Ideally a height adjustable desk will ensure you move more during the day avoiding repetitive strain. If, when you sit at a desk, you can keep your elbows bent at approximately a 90-degree angle with straight wrists, you likely have the right desk height.

• A monitor arm is an ideal solution for an existing or new desk and can be inexpensive. They are available in a number of colours and price ranges. Remember the more you pay the better the quality, however everyone works to a budget so pay what you are comfortable with, but don’t forget the improvement in mobility and removal of those aches and pains!
• If you work primarily on a laptop, use a secondary monitor if possible.

At Home and Office Furniture we have a Range of Monitor and desk supporting arms including:

• Single Monitor Arms
• Gas Lift Monitor Arms
• Double Monitor Arms
• Treble Monitor Arms
• Laptop and Screen Arms
• Hotbox 4